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Sustainable use of alligator and crocodile leather: a positive impact on the planet, the communities and the species. Perpared by BOARINI MILANESI Sustainability Department, January 2021
BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
1
BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
At Boarini Milanesi we firmly believe that the essence of sustainability is to
buy less items, that are of a higher quality, and keep them for longer.
We prefer to use natural materials, ensuring our handbags are made to last. In
this way, we can limit the use of petroleum-based products, such as plastic, to
an absolute minimum and thus reduce our impact on the environment.
This report, drawn up by our Sustainability Department, was written with the
aim of drawing attention to the often hidden and misunderstood benefits of
using luxury leathers in fashion.
Based on the extensive scientific evidence mentioned in the report, we can
confirm that the sustainable use of luxury leather can generate benefits for the
species, the environment and communities, and is therefore in line with our
mission and our idea of sustainability.
Carolina Boarini and Matteo Rodolfo Milanesi
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BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5
The use of alligator and crocodile skins actively contributes to the preservation of
the species .......................................................................................................................... 7
The use of alligator and crocodile skins contributes to the health of the planet ............ 11
The use of alligator and crocodile skins helps local communities .................................... 13
FURTHER DETAILS
What does using crocodile leather sustainably means? .................................................... 16
CITES................................................................................................................................ 18
Conservation Status: Crocodylus Porosus ...................................................................... 19
Conservation Status: Alligator Mississippiensis .............................................................. 20
Final considerations........................................................................................................... 21
References.......................................................................................................................... 22
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BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
“ People should come and see
the benefits for themselves.
The message should no longer be
“this industry is awful.”
It should be
“buy a crocodile handbag
and save five more crocodiles,
and countless other species.”
Dr. Daniel Natusch, biologist and ecologist, member of IUCN/SSC
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BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
Introduction
This report has been written with the aim of As one of more than 100 species specialist
providing information on the sustainable use groups operating under the auspices of
of crocodile and alligator skins in fashion and the Species Survival Commission (SSC)
the positive impact it has on the conservation of the IUCN, the CSG works closely
of these species, their habitats and the with the CITES and other international
communities that live in close contact with intergovernmental bodies to promote
them. crocodilian conservation and legal trade
that does not threaten the survival of these
The report explores three key benefits of important reptiles.
the sustainable use of crocodile and alligator
leather: • LDWF - Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries: it is responsible
• preservation of the species for managing and protecting Louisiana’s
• health of the planet natural resources. Its goal is to manage,
• helping local communities conserve, and promote wise utilization
of Louisiana’s renewable fish and wildlife
The report has been compiled using data and resources and their supporting habitats
information from publications and articles through replenishment, protection,
written by herpetologists, environmentalists, enhancement, research, development, and
crocodilia conservationists and other education for the social and economic
experts belonging to or working with the benefit of current and future generations.
following prestigious governmental and non-
governmental organisations: • Department of Environment and
Science - Queensland Government:
• IUCN - International Union for it is responsible for the protection and
Conservation of Nature: a membership management of parks, forests and the Great
Union composed of both government and Barrier Reef. Its role is also to enhance
civil society organisations. It harnesses the Queensland’s ecosystems, avoid, minimise
experience, resources and reach of its more or mitigate impacts to the environment,
than 1,400 Member organisations and the lead the development of science strategy
input of more than 17,000 experts. This for government, deliver scientific expertise
diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN to protect and manage our environment
the global authority on the status of the and natural resource base and support
natural world and the measures needed to the development of Queensland’s science
safeguard it. sector.
• CSG - The Crocodile Specialist Group: • UNDP - United Nations Development
is a worldwide network of biologists, Programme: it works in about 170
wildlife managers, government officials, countries and territories, helping to
independent researchers, non-government eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities
representatives, farmers, traders, tanners, and exclusion, and build resilience so
fashion leaders, and private companies countries can sustain progress. As the
actively involved in the conservation of UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a
the world’s living species of alligators, critical role in helping countries achieve the
crocodiles, caimans and gharials in the wild. Sustainable Development Goals.
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BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
The final part of the report contains two brief
reviews of the state of conservation of two of
the most widely used species in the fashion
and luxury markets: Crocodylus Porosus
(the Saltwater Crocodile) and Alligator
Mississippiensis (the American Alligator).
A further section explains the workings
of Appendices I, II and III of the CITES
(Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), an
international agreement between governments
aiming is to ensure that international trade in
specimens of wild animals and plants does not
threaten their survival.
The mentioned Appendices are lists of species
afforded different levels or types of protection
from over-exploitation and are therefore
instrumental to a clear understanding of the
current system of protection of crocodiles and
alligators.
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BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
The use of alligator and crocodile skins actively
contributes to the preservation of the species
Crocodiles receive more protection where they economic incentives that would allow people
are subject to sustainable use. living in close contact with these animals to
tolerate them due to their positive impact on
Citing Matt Shirley, Conservation Scientist, their economic livelihoods.
Florida International University, “Of the
world’s 27 crocodilian species, the only ones For this reason, specific management programs
that aren’t imminently threatened with based on the sustainable use of crocodiles have
extinction are those that are being valued for been developed to conserve the species and
commercial purposes”. make it thrive, while creating an economic
sector that can support entire communities.
As you see in the text “Crocodiles: status This avoids the risk of illegal hunting and
survey and conservation action plan” which promotes the preservation of crocodile
reflects the ongoing activities of the Crocodile habitats..
Specialist Group of the IUCN (International
Union for Conservation of Nature) since about These are very specific programs, tailored to the
1970, many species have benefited immensely realities in which they are implemented after an
from the institution of improved protection, initial period of study and monitoring of the
but only when it was accompanied by tightly species concerned (Source: “Crocodiles: status
controlled exploitation. survey and conservation action plan” CSG –
IUCN).
The aforementioned report shows that where
conservation programmes put in place to
©pomphotothailand / Adobe Stock
protect these species have succeeded, leading
to a significant increase in the number of
crocodiles, conflicts between humans and
crocodiles have also increased.
Particularly relevant examples are found in the
Solomon Islands and the Malaysian federation
territories of Sabah and Sarawak, where,
following the increase in the saltwater crocodile
population, attacks by crocodiles on livestock
and humans have also increased, making
coexistence between humans and crocodiles a Hatchling of Crocodylus Porosus
problem (Source: “Crocodiles: status survey
and conservation action plan” CSG – IUCN), “Crocodiles: status survey and conservation
resulting in the real risk of local populations action plan” (CSG – IUCN) reports that in
being encouraged to kill large numbers of countries such as Australia, the US, Papua New
crocodiles to avoid losing their livestock and Guinea and Indonesia, where management
their lives. programs have been implemented with most
success, crocodilian populations have increased
Consequently, international wildlife agencies or remained stable in the wild while supporting
sought a different approach, introducing economically viable levels of exploitation.
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BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
In the United States for example, where the implementation of a management program
American Alligator population was classified based on sustainable use, has made these three
endangered in the early 1960s, after the ban on countries home to the majority of the world’s
illegal trade in alligators skin (early 1970s), the population of the species.
implementation of management programs has
further enhanched population recovery. Where, however, there has been an increase
in conflicts between man and the saltwater
The current total wild population is estimated in crocodile, as in the aforementioned cases of the
3-4 million non-hatchlings (Source: “American Solomon Islands and the Malaysian federation
Alligator - Alligator Mississippiensis” by Allan territories of Sabah and Sarawak, strategies are
R. Woodward and Ruth M. Elsey - CSG). being identified to establish the current status
of the population, and to investigate options
The “Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative, for ongoing management based on sustainable
Papua New Guinea” (United Nations use (Source: “Crocodiles: status survey and
Development Programme, 2012 - Equator conservation action plan” CSG – IUCN).
Initiative Case Study Series) report indicates
that a survey in 2007 estimated a total of The situation is different in Sri Lanka, where
220 saltwater crocodile nests, compared to the species is protected, but where there are no
150 in 1997 prior to SWMI (Sepik Wetlands tangible management programs. In this country,
Management Initiative) beginning their work. according to the CSG, the saltwater crocodile
Positive impacts can also be seen in freshwater is “severely depleted, with no conservation, or
crocodile nesting trends, with a sharp increase management program in place.”
of almost 80% recorded between 1996 and
2007. Even though the species is protected by national
Aerial surveys have revealed a steadily increasing regulations, illegal hunting still takes place,
total crocodile population between 1998 and mainly for flesh, destruction of eggs, habitat
2010. The latest survey, covering 50 villages, loss and the killing of hatchlings, juveniles and
counted over 500 nests. subadults as by-catch in fishing nets as major
threats (Source: “Crocodiles: status survey and
conservation action plan” CSG – IUCN).
©RealityImages / Adobe Stock
In addition, there is a lack of strict control by
the authorities and an absence of educational
plans for populations living in close contact
with the saltwater crocodile, which are usually
activated within conservation or management
program such as those mentioned above,
implemented in Australia, Papua New Guinea
and the United States.
The research carried out by Anslem de Silva
Saltwater crocodile, India (Herpetologist Member, Crocodile Specialists
Group IUCN, World Conservation Union,
From the report drawn up by Webb, Manolis Species Survival Commission) and published
and Brian of the IUCN-CSG, it is evident in the report “The status of the Saltwater
that in Australia, Papua New Guinea and crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus) inhabiting
Indonesia, the significant increase in the the Nilwala River, Matara District and its
saltwater crocodile population following the impact on the community”, it is clear that
8BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
these communities lack basic information on American alligators” by Louisiana Department
how to deal with these animals and on the of Wildlife and Fisheries).
importance of their natural habitat and how
its conservation directly affects their lives and
©Boarini Milanesi
safety.
A clear example of the scarcity of information
available to the communities is reported by de
Silva: “During our survey of residents living
near the river we observed that some tie their
dogs in the backyard of their homes adjoining
the river, which prompts the dog to bark at the
slightest disturbance. This unfortunately helps
to attract crocodiles”.
In these cases, an educational plan that can CITES tags on alligator leather
supply information on biology, behaviour
of crocodilians and guidelines for avoiding As indicated in the report by the IUCN
negative interactions is essential to prevent International Union for Conservation
further human-crocodile conflict (Source: of Nature “Crocodiles: status survey and
IUCN-CSG International Union for conservation action plan”, “the support of
Conservation of Nature, Crocodile Specialist the commercial sector has provided powerful
Group) and the subsequent depletion of wild leverage to encourage compliance by producing
populations of crocodilians caused by man. countries and has been an incentive to invest in
a good sustainable crocodilian management”.
The presence of management plans also has Taking the state of Louisiana as an example,
a direct influence on raising the standards of where, according to several experts, il
protection of the species. management program based on sustainable use
has worked best, the Louisiana Department of
Indeed, a portion of the economic returns from Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has carried out
the sustainable use of crocodilians is retained various studies to support the monitoring and
and provides funding for management, welfare of the alligator mississippiensis.
monitoring, regulation, enforcement and
research programs on crocodiles. Surveys are carried out on the survival, growth
and reproduction of farm-released alligators,
Funding usually derives from the fees related the distribution and number of nests and
to the alligator industry (hide tag fees, shipping general investigations into the impact of the
label fees, severance tax on alligator skins harvest program on the wild population.
and alligator hunting license fees), which In this way, the effects of current strategies are
enable these programs to support themselves monitored and analysed in order to assess their
(Sources: “Crocodiles: status survey and effectiveness and the need for changes in favour
conservation action plan” Crocodile Specialist of the ecosystem.
Group - International Union for Conservation
of Nature, “Louisiana alligator management Also in Louisiana, LDWF and the LSU School
program 2018-2019 annual report” and of veterinary medicine, in association with the
“Government’s role in supply chain Louisiana Alligator Farmers and Ranchers
sustainability, traceability and verification for Association, have developed a document
9BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
entitled “Best Management Practices for
Louisiana Alligator Farming”.
This document contains detailed information
on recommended practices to ensure animal
welfare of captive reared alligators in Louisiana.
Topics dealt with include egg collection,
hatching, rearing, release to the wild and
euthanasia.
The document has been written to ensure that
licensed alligator farm/ranches are employing
humane methods of working with alligators
(source: “Louisiana alligator management
program 2018-2019 annual report”).
According to the Crocodile Specialist Group
of the IUCN, “the real breakthrough for
crocodilians has been the success of the
Crocodile Specialist Group in convincing the
large international traders and manufacturers of
crocodilian products that they can successfully
do business with equal or enhanced profits if
sustainable use schemes are in place.”
The lack of demand for the use of alligator skins
in the commercial sector would have a direct
impact on the protection of these animals.
According to “Crocodiles: status survey and
conservation action plan”, in the past some
operators have been forced to withdraw from
the industry due to the global economic crisis.
As a direct consequence, most management
programs based on sustainable use saw a
reduction in their budget, to the detriment of
monitoring and studies aimed at improving
the standards of preservation of the species,
highlighting once again the direct link between
the welfare and protection of the species and
the commercial demand for alligator products.
10BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
The use of alligator and crocodile skins contributes to
the health of the planet
Wetlands, the natural habitat of crocodiles, are Conservation Monitoring Center, wetlands
disappearing rapidly, often due to conversion occupy 6% of the Earth’s surface.
into agricultural land and for tourism. They are ecosystems of fundamental
importance to the planet and to the
Crocodile management programs, based on communities that inhabit these areas, for
the sustainable use of crocodiles, which aim to several reasons:
preserve the species and ensure that they thrive,
while creating an economic spin-off to support • 40% of world’s species live and breed in
the people who live in close contact with them, wetlands
also include initiatives to protect and restore
wetlands for the benefit of native animals and • Wetlands have the ability to reduce the
plants. intensity of violent natural events such as
tidal waves, tsunamis and floods
According to the report “Crocodiles: status
survey and conservation action plan” which • During dry seasons, they release stored
reflects the ongoing activities of the Crocodile water, delaying the onset of droughts
Specialist Group of the IUCN (International
Union for Conservation of Nature), habitat • Wetlands have the best capacity of any
loss continues to be a major problem in many ecosystem to retain carbon and peatlands, a
areas occupied by crocodilians. type of terrestrial wetlands, can store twice
as much carbon as forests(source: Ramsar
Convention on Wetland and “Wetlands -
©Uwe / Adobe Stock
5th Edition” di William J. Mitsch, James
G. Gosselink).
Nick Davidson, Environmental, Adjunct
Professor at Charles Stuart University –
Institute for Land, Water and Society, in his
paper “How much wetland has the world lost?
Long-term and recent trends in global wetland
area” has analysed changes in wetlands extent,
and rate of change in extent, from 189 reports in
published scientific journal papers and reports.
Adelaide River wetland, northern Territory, Australia Davidson has estimated that from 1700 to the
present day, 87% of the planet’s wetlands have
In agreement with the definition by the Ramsar been lost and natural conversion and loss in the
Convention on Wetlands, Wetlands are areas 20th and early 21st century, has happened at a
where water is the primary factor controlling much faster rate (3.7 times).
the environment and the associated plant and
animal life. A rapid disappearance, according to experts
from the Ramsar Convention on Wetland,
According to estimates by the United Nation three times faster than forests, which also results
Environment Programme - World C in the loss and threat of extinction of 25% of
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Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
the species that inhabit these ecosystems. economic incentives to encourage people to
When crocodile management programs maintain crocodilians and their habitat in a
are implemented, however, the situation is natural state.”
different.
©lazyllama / Adobe Stock
Using the example of Papua New Guinea,
before the “Sepik wetlands management
initiative”(based on the sustainable use of
crocodiles) was set up in 1998 by the United
Nations Development Programme, there was
a situation of fire-related wetland degradation.
During dry seasons, local people were burning
grassland for hunting, cultivation, or as part
of landowner disputes, and in the process
destroying vast areas of wetlands and nesting
habitats for the New Guinea Freshwater Wetland in Caddo Lake, Texas, United States.
Crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae) and
Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).
By 1998, more than half of crocodile nesting
sites surveyed had lost over half of their suitable
nesting area; at a third of the sites, more than
80% of the vegetation had been lost (Source:
United Nations Development Programme.
2012. Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative,
Papua New Guinea. Equator Initiative Case
Study Series.)
Monitoring programs carried out after
the introduction of the SWMI recorded a
reduction in burning of grassland areas where
crocodiles nest. By 2005, saltwater crocodile
nesting habitats in 1.5 million ha of the middle
and upper Sepik had been rehabilitated by
regulations prohibiting burning (Source:
United Nations Development Programme.
2012. Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative,
Papua New Guinea. Equator Initiative Case
Study Series.)
In general, as reported in “Crocodiles: status
survey and conservation action plan” which
reflects the ongoing activities of the Crocodile
Specialist Group of the IUCN (International
Union for Conservation of Nature)
“management programs based on sustainable
use of crocodilians can provide the necessary
12BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
The use of alligator and crocodile skins helps local
communities
The model for sustainable use of dangerous along the Tana River.
reptiles provides an incentive for people to live
in close contact with these animals, creating As can be seen on its website (https://
an economic spin-off that supports entire www.nilecrocodiles.org/), the company has
communities. contributed in many ways to the well-being
of the community over the years, building
“Crocodiles. Status Survey and conservation drinking water wells moving people away from
action plan. Third Edition” which reflects the traditional river water collection and crocodile
ongoing activities of the Crocodile Specialist conflict, improving their sanitary facilities
Group of the IUCN (International Union by installing Eco Sanitary Facilities (ESF,)
for Conservation of Nature), states that it is installing solar panels, and portable solar lights
“widely recognised that the crocodile industry to provide light in schools and community
in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea is an centres.
important and sometimes the only source of
cash income for many rural communities.”
“It is widely recognised that
In Papua New Guinea, thanks to the “Sepik
Wetlands Management Initiative” managed by the crocodile industry in
the United Nations Development Programme, Indonesia (as in Papua New
the combination of sustainable egg collection
and crocodile farming has doubled the annual Guinea) is an important, and
income in participating communities (source:
UNDP Papua New Guinea website https://
sometimes the only, source of
www.pg.undp.org/). cash income for many rural
Many of the farmers have invested their increased communities in remote areas”
profits into school fees for their children; in
other cases, revenues have been used to purchase Crocodiles. Status Survey and conservation action plan.
outboard motors for canoes, set up fuel sheds,
build water tanks to be used by communities Recently they also lead a major project to
and build primary schools. In two cases, guest improve maternal health in the area by building
houses have been built using revenue from sales a maternity clinic. Prior to this women in the
of crocodile eggs, while funds have also been Tana river had to walk 25 km to the nearest
invested in three trade stores (source: United clinic.
Nations Development Programme. 2012.
Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative, Papua Even in the most developed countries,
New Guinea. Equator Initiative Case Study the sustainable use of crocodiles generates
Series). significant revenues and profits.
In addition to being an indispensable source In the USA the alligator management program
of income, this industry often brings other generates more than $US100 million dollars
benefits, such as the Nile Crocodile Farm, a annually at the product level, providing a
sustainable crocodile farm located in Kenya substantial incentive for the public to retain
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Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
habitat and live with alligators (source: Environment and Science, runs a comprehensive
Crocodiles. Status Survey and conservation “Crocwise” community education and
action plan. IUCN – CSG). awareness program to minimise the risks
posed to people and provide information
According to figures supplied by the Louisiana on crocodile biology and behaviour. The
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in 2018 program encourages individuals to adopt
alone, taxes on the unique and traceable tag an overall awareness that they are in ‘croc
associated with each wild harvest alligator country’, to underpin a set of safety behaviours
brought Louisiana a profit of $1,921,097. (Source: Queensland Government website
Tag fees are collected and deposited into a - Department of Environment and Science
government managed Alligator Resources https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/ and
Fund, which covers the annual expenses of the “Queensland Crocodile Management Plan”
LDWF Alligator program and educational and - Prepared by: Conservation and Biodiversity
conservative efforts. Policy Unit, Department of Environment and
Heritage Protection).
Taxpayer dollars are not used to manage
the alligator program. These funds are The importance of education plans associated
paid completely by the commercial trade with management programs is even greater in
(source: “Government’s role in supply chain poorer countries, where education in relation
sustainability, traceability and verification for to these animals is poor if not non-existent. In
american alligator” signed by John Bel Edwards these areas, people often behave wrongly in the
– Governor, Jack Montoucet – Secretary, belief that they can help keep crocodiles away
LDWF). from people and livestock.
The management programs for a sustainable As already mentioned, an example is given
use of crocodilians also include educational by Anslem de Silva (Herpetologist Member,
initiatives aimed at raising awareness on these Crocodile Specialists Group IUCN, World
animals, the importance of preserving their Conservation Union, Species Survival
habitat and how to improve the lives of the Commission) in the report “The status of
communities living in close contact with them. the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
inhabiting the Nilwala River, Matara District
In Papua New Guinea, SWMI management and its impact on the community”: “During
program provides training on crocodile farming our survey of residents living near the river
and crocodile egg harvesting techniques to we observed that some tie their dogs in the
improve the sustainability of eggs these income backyard of their homes adjoining the river,
generating activities. which prompts the dog to bark at the slightest
This has involved training on regulations to disturbance. This unfortunately helps to
ensure that harvesting of crocodiles and their attract crocodiles”.
do not deplete crocodile breeding stocks;
other training has focused on improving the In view of this, the commercial use of
quality of crocodile skins from village farming crocodilians leads to the implementation of
pens, allowing farmers to generate higher management programs that generate jobs,
profits. (Source: United Nations Development income for communities, which have an
Programme. 2012. Sepik Wetlands incentive to tolerate them, and educational
Management Initiative, Papua New Guinea. programs that help people protect themselves
Equator Initiative Case Study Series.) from these important but dangerous reptiles.
In Queensland, Australia, the Department of
14BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
Further details
15BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
What does using crocodile leather sustainably
means?
The CSG (Crocodile Specialist Group of IUCN - International Union for Conservation of
Nature) in “Crocodiles: status survey and conservation action plan” lists basic components for
crocodilian sustainable use demonstrated by the crocodiles management programs, which are:
what does using crocodiles sustainably mean
Survey: Recovery:
establish an index of species Where necessary and indicated by
distribution in a given area. An the survey, exploitation is preceded
extensive but fairly superficial survey by a period of complete protection.
of crocodilians […] conducted […] to This allows crocodile population
establish an index of distribution and to increase in size and management
abundance. agencies to develop expertise and
infrastructure.
Monitoring: Biology:
a regime of periodic monitoring of the Exploitation of the crocodilian
population is undertaken, changes population is structured to focus
in the rate of exploitation are based harvest on those life stages where
upon the results of this monitoring high mortality has the least effect on
program. the population (eggs, hatchlings and
adult males).
Determination of which parts of a
population to exploit, and how much,
are derived from biological studies.
16BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
Caution: Local benefit:
levels of exploitation are kept well the immediate economic benefits and
below the calculated levels that the responsibility for management
the population may be able to are vested in the social groups
sustain. This is accomplished by closest to the extraction phase of the
implementing closed seasons, size exploitation. In Papua New Guinea
limits, gear limitations, restricted these are tribal land owners […], in
licensing of processors and traders, Australia and USA local businessman
harvest and export quotas. and farmers.
Enforcement: Trade control:
Strict controls are applied to harvest, Because the main economic benefit
trading, tanning, manufacturing and of crocodile use is derived from
export, to ensure that all regulations international commerce, a stringent
are observed. system for controlling international
trade is the primary mechanism
for controlling use and ensuring
sustainability.
Economic feedback:
A portion of the economic returns
from the use is retained and used to
support monitoring, management
and enforcement. This is usually in
the form of license fees, export fees
and user access charges.
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Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
CITES
What is CITES?
Appendix I:
CITES (Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna includes species threatened with
and Flora) is an international agreement extinction. Trade in specimens of there
between governments aiming is to ensure that species is permitted only in exceptional
international trade in specimens of wild circumstances.
animals and plants does not threaten their
survival.
States that have agreed to be bound by the Appendix II:
Convention (‘joined’ CITES) are known as
Parties. includes species not necessarily
threatened with extinction, but in which
For many years CITES has been among the trade must be controlled in order to
conservation agreements with the largest avoid utilization incompatible with their
membership, with now 183 Parties. survival.
©CITES
The conference of parties […] has agreed […]
on a set of biological and trade criteria to help
determine whether a species should be included
in appendices I or II.
At each regular meeting of the conference,
parties submit proposal based on those criteria
to amend these two appendices.
Those amendments proposals are discussed
and then submitted to a vote.
CITES Convention of Parties 17, Johannesburg, October 2016
Appendix III:
What are CITES Appendices and
how do they work? contains species that are protected in
at least one country, which has asked
other CITES Parties for assistance in
The CITES Appendices are lists of species
controlling trade.
afforded different levels or types of protection
from over-exploitation.
Changes to appendix III follow a distinct
The species covered by cites are listed in procedure from changes to Appendix I and
three appendices, according to the degree of II, as each party is entitled to make unilateral
protection they need. amendments to it.
18BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
Conservation Status: Crocodylus Porosus
Conservation overview of the majority of the world’s population of the
species.
CITES:
In Western Australia in particular, the
Appendix II: Australia e Papua New monitoring of the Ord River and West Arm
Guinea indicate mean rates of increase of 5.1% p.a.
(2000-2008) and 4.1% p.a. (1992-2008).
Appendix II: Indonesia (Ranching Spotlight surveys of the Ord River carried
resolution 3.15, with special conditions out in 2008 indicated that the overall rate of
applying to Papua Province pursuant to increase, based on all size classes, is 8.2% p.a.
Resolution Conf. 8.22) (1992-2008) in the tidal section and 5.5% p.a.
in the non-tidal section of the river.
Appendix I: Bangladesh, Brunei,
Cambodia, China, India, Malaysia, Management options that allow a species
Myanmar, Palau, Philippines, Seychelles, to be used in a sustainable manner for the
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, commercial benefit of the landowners are
Thailandia, Vanuatu, Vietnam. particularly effective in managing the saltwater
crocodile.
Conservation and status
© Slowmotiongli / Adobe Stock
Saltwater crocodile populations are legally
protected in most countries, but protection
alone is unlikely to offer long-term security.
Although in some states, such as Solomon
Islands, Sabah/Sarawak, the protection of
the species has resulted in an increase in the
number of animals, the number of attacks
on humans and livestock has also increased,
making coexistence a problem.
In Sri Lanka specifically, where the situation
Saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus
is considered to be extremely serious, there
are reports of the destruction of eggs, habitat
loss and the killing of hatchlings, juveniles Sources
and subadults and by-catch in fishing nets as a
major threats. The following analysis has been prepared on
the basis of “Crocodiles: status survey and
The report written by Webb, Manolis and Brian conservation action plan” which reflects the
of the IUCN-CSG shows that in countries such ongoing activities of the Crocodile Specialist
as Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, Group of the IUCN (International Union for
the management Program based on sustainable Conservation of Nature) – chapter “Saltwater
use has been successfully implemented, with crocodile Crocodylus porosus” autori Grahame
a significant increase in the population of C. J.W. Webb, s.Charlie Manolis and Matthew L.
Porosus, making these the three host countries Brien.
19BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
Conservation Status: Alligator Mississipiensis
Conservation overview period from 1986 to 2018 (Source: “Louisiana’s
alligator management program 2018-2019
CITES: annual report” Prepared by Louisiana
Department of Wilflife and Fisheries, Office
Appendix II of Wildlife, Coastal and Nongame Resources
Division).
Conservation and status
Sustainable alligator use programs have been
implemented in Louisiana, Florida, Texas and
The American alligator is the outstanding
other southern and south-eastern states of the
example of the application of sustainable use
United States for many years now and are based
for the successful conservation of a crocodilian
on a combination of farming, ranching and
species (Source: “Crocodiles : status survey and
cropping of wild adults.
conservation action plan” which reflects the
ongoing activities of the Crocodile Specialist
Alligator populations under these management
Group of the IUCN - International Union for
programs are certainly stable or even increasing
Conservation of Nature).
(source: American Alligator - Alligator
mississippiensis” di Allan R. Woodward and
Specifically, the Louisiana program has been
Ruth M. Elsey CSG-IUCN).
exported and used for the management and
conservation of various crocodilian species
© Thomas / Adobe Stock
throughout the world.
Considered an endangered species in 1960,
alligator mississippiensis reacted positively
to management and recovered quickly. The
report entitled “American Alligator - Alligator
mississippiensis” by Allan R. Woodward and
Ruth M. Elsey of the Crocodile Specialist
Group of the IUCN reports that the current
total wild population is estimated in 3-4 million
non-hatchling alligator mississippiensis.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries, che gestisce il Louisiana’s alligator
management program, currently requires a
quantity of juvenile alligator equal to 10% of
the eggs hatched by the ranchers be returned to
the wild within two years of hatching.
A variable return rate is determined on the
basis of estimates of survival of young alligators
in the wild.
In 2018, a total of 52,850 farm-raised alligators
were released into the wild in the state of
Louisiana alone, with a total of 1,158,399 in the American Alligator, Alligator Mississippiensis
20BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
Final considerations
According to the definition provided by IUCN, WWF and UNEP, an activity is sustainable if it can
be continued indefinitely (source: IUCN/UNEP/WWF. 1991. Caring for the Earth, A Strategy for
Sustainable Living. (R. Prescott-Allen, writer). Gland, Switzerland.)
And this is the case of management programs for the sustainable use of crocodilians.
Without them, if we merely protect the species without envisaging its commercial exploitation,
crocodiles would be killed, because they are seen as nothing more than a source of danger to the
communities that live in close contact with them. Moreover, their habitat, the wetlands, would be
destroyed to make way for farmland and tourist developments.
Considering the publications examined, it can be seen that sustainable use is particularly effective
for the preservation and repopulation of the various species of crocodiles and alligators to which
it is applied, leading to a clear increase in numbers in the wild.
Furthermore, the economic incentives and spin-offs created by the sustainable use of crocodilians,
together with the educational plans developed through the management programs, create both
economic and safety benefits for communities.
This suggests that, despite what people usually think, buying products made from alligator and
crocodile leather from sustainable, certified farms, is not only beneficial, it is absolutely essential
for the environment and the species concerned.
21BOARINI MILANESI
Sustainable Use Of Alligator And Crocodile Leather: A Positive
Impact On The Planet, The Communities And The Species.
References
United Nations Development Programme. Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative, Papua New Guinea.
Equator Initiative Case Study Series (2012).
De Silva, A., The Status of the Saltwater Crocodile Inhabiting the Nilwala River in Matara District and Its
Impact on the Community (2008).
Thorbjarnarson J., Crocodiles: An Action Plan for Their Conservation, IUCN (1992) .
Manolis, S.C. and Stevenson, C. (eds.), Crocodiles: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Third Edition
(2010).
Webb, G.J.W.*, Manolis, S.C.* and Brien, M.L.*, Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus (2010).
Allan R. Woodward and Ruth M. Elsey, Alligator mississippiensis Action Plan (2019).
Mitsch, William J., Gosselink, James G., Wetlands 5th edition (2015).
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: TEEB: The Economics of Ecosystems and
Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands (2013)
IUCN/UNEP/WWF, Caring for the Earth, A Strategy for Sustainable Living. (R. Prescott-Allen, writer).
Gland, Switzerland (1991).
Louisiana’s alligator management program 2018-2019 annual report, Prepared by Louisiana Department of
Wilflife and Fisheries, Office of Wildlife, Coastal and Nongame Resources Division (2019).
Queensland Crocodile Management Plan. Conservation and Biodiversity Policy Unit, Department of
Environment and Heritage Protection, State of Queensland (2017).
Government’s role in supply chain sustainability, traceability and verification for american alligator”,signed by
John Bel Edwards,Governor, Jack Montoucet, Secretary and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
(2019).
Websites
CITES, https://cites.org/
IUCN, https://www.iucn.org/
IUCN, Crocodile Specialist Group, https://www.iucncsg.org/
United Nation Development Programme, Papua New Guinea, https://www.pg.undp.org/
Queensland Government website - Department of Enviorment and Science, https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
Nile Crocodile Farm, https://www.nilecrocodiles.org/
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, https://www.ramsar.org/
22www.boarini-milanesi.com
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